White House On Cheney Ignoring Executive Order: ‘It’s A Little Bit Of A Non-Issue’

[Hissyspit]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/22/wh-order

White House On Cheney Ignoring Executive Order: ‘It’s A Little Bit Of A Non-Issue’

During a heated press briefing today, White House spokesperson Dana Perino tried desperately to downplay yesterday’s report showing that Vice President Cheney has exempted his office from a presidential executive order designed to safeguard classified national security information. At one point, Perino called it “a little bit of a non-story.”

She repeatedly said that Cheney exempt from a mere “small portion” or “small section” of the executive order, and that President Bush never intended for the executive order to apply to Cheney any differently than it applies to the president’s own office.

Perino later contradicted herself: first, she stated definitively that Cheney’s office is “complying with all the rules and regulations regarding the handling of classified material.” But when questioned how she could be sure, Perino said it was a “good question” and admitted she isn’t “positive” that his office is in compliance.

Perhaps most importantly, Perino failed to answer two key questions raised by the scandal:

– Perino offered no explanation for the fact that Cheney’s office followed the requirements of the executive order in 2001 and 2002, then abruptly stopped. “That I don’t know,” she said. Later, she responded sarcastically when asked whether Cheney’s office would offer more than the one-line statement it released yesterday. “I’ll ask the vice president if he’ll come to the press briefing room and answer your questions,” she said.

– Perino refused to say definitely whether Vice President Cheney is part of the executive branch. She would only say it is an “interesting constitutional question that people can debate.”

Watch it:

VIDEO AT LINK

[sinkingfeeling]

1. It is very much a BIG issue to the American people!

[emilyg]

6. Damn Right!

Sorry excuse for a human being.

[Mythsaje]

2. And, in further news,

it is revealed that you CAN be "a little bit pregnant." News at eleven.

[malaise]

23. In further news

MSNBC has several dicks discussing the 2008 presidential election.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Yuk, yuk, yuk. It's all so funny. Fucking stupid evil bastards.

[wtmusic]

7. The entire lot belongs in prison

yet they're so proud of themselves for getting away with it.

Their day will come.

[cassiepriam]

4. Translation: Listen Dorks, the Constitution is gone, finished, done. Get over it.

[wtmusic]

5. It is a very interesting question that people in a jury can debate. nt

[annabanana]

10. eggs-ZACTLY!. . . . . . . n/t

[DemGa]

8. See, you libruls are getting all heated up about nothing again.

:sarcasm:

The sad part is, this will also pass down the memory hole and not a thing will come of it.

[annabanana]

11. uh. . that "memory hole" is just about overflowing now. . .

The shit is beginning to stink.

[DemGa]

14. Lol, I hope you're right

I'd love to see them answer for something.

[rodeodance]

9. its a constitutial question?---oh gawd!

[rodeodance]

13. rec

[Vincardog]

12. People can debate anything especially if there are brain dead RW talking points involved

– Perino refused to say definitely whether Vice President Cheney is part of the executive branch. She would only say it is an “interesting constitutional question that people can debate.”

This "Logic" is the same the Creationists use to argue teaching their religious creed in our science classes.

I call BULLSHIT

[rodeodance]

15. Q: Is that right? Is his office not an entity within the Executive Branch?

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Ms perino will get back to the press about the VP---Is VP an entity of the Ex Branch?
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1161910#1161910
1161910, Ms perino will get back to the press about the VP---Is VP an entity of the Ex Branch?
Posted by rodeodance on Fri Jun-22-07 02:27 PM

my god, she could not answer a simple question.
Today she fell all over herself trying to explain the 'logic"!!



this is june 21:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/06/20070621-5.html

......Q This is from the House Oversight Committee, this is Waxman's people. The committee says it has learned that over the objections of the National Archives, Vice President Cheney exempted his office from the Presidential order that establishes government-wide procedures for safeguarding classified national security information. The Vice President asserts his office is not "an entity within the Executive Branch."

Is that right? Is his office not an entity within the Executive Branch?

MS. PERINO: John, as much as I'd love to be able to provide you an answer here, I think you've given me something that I haven't seen yet, and I'm going to go back and I'll check it out.

Q Thank you.

[rodeodance]

16. Randi R. show----DEFUND his office---NO more Airforce II or SS---call your

congressperson---Congress as whole is ignoring this as they head out of time again!!

[Disturbed]

20. “interesting constitutional question that people can debate.”

She is a vapid mouth piece. People can debate all they wish to but that won't solve a damn thing. Congress needs to get their collective heads out of the manure pile and challenge this Criminal VP and Impeach him, forthwith.

[aquart]

17. No. It is NOT up for debate.

[Hangingon]

18. The issue sounds good when we shout about it....

but remember it is about compliance with an ISOO reporting requirement. It isn't really about the quoted section of the PRA>

[RedCappedBandit]

19. oh yay we get to debate it

thanks for the permission!



They make it sound like this is some great opportunity for the american people :eyes:

[NewJeffCT]

21. And, not everything they've done is illegal

Their excuses are getting lamer & lamer.

What's next? The dog ate the documents that were under subpoena?

[malaise]

22. "an interesting constitutional question that people can debate."

Is she fugging mad?

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

24. My guess is NEITHER the P or the VP is in compliance. Dana the distortor,...

,...just like the rest of BushCO and the neocons.

[eleny]

25. K&R

[supernova]

26. Bush is afraid of Cheney

is what this tells me.

We all knew this of course when Cheney selected himself for VP before the 2000 selection. This latest see how far I can go gambit from Cheney is the latest manefestation of that phenomenon.

And who in DC is going to stand up to this Dictator wanna-be?

[Disturbed]

28. "And who in DC is going to stand up to this Dictator wanna-be?

Kucinich and eight House Members, so far, have.

[Captain Hilts]

27. Do they really want to give the next prez - a DEMOCRAT - these rights? nt

[mmonk]

29. Dick Cheney is right. It's a non issue as long as no one does anything

about it.

[pdxmom]

30. Cheney being part of the executive branch is up for debate about like

Gonzales put the right of habeaus up for debate in his little lying session.

[Jack Rabbit]

31. The White House should give Dana a gymnast's leotard

The White House should give Dana a gymnast's leotard if she's going to have to answer questions like this.

She was really having to do some fancy acrobatics to keep from saying "we have a problem with the Big Dick's interpretation of the nature of the Vice Presidency" or "Mr. Cheney is out of his fucking mind."

First of all, let's get this straight: there is no "interesting debate" about the Vice President being a member of the executive branch. He is not a member of the legislatives branch. He votes only in case of a tie vote in the Senate. He cannot introduce legislation. He is a member of no Senate committees. Being President of the Senate does not entitle him to be called "Senator".

This is the most ridiculous piece of baloney posing as constitutional scholarship I've heard since . . . well, come to think of it, it right up there with Mr. Bush's signing statements. When I was in eighth grade, my history teacher made the class, each as individuals, memorize the Constitution with all its archaic spelling and punctuation, word for word and clause for clause. I aced the exams. I knew that document and I have not forgotten it. Maybe he can pull one over on some stupid 26-percenter (a redundancy, I know) with that fucking bullshit, but he can't pull it over on me.

The Vice President is a member of the executive branch.

The President is not above the law.

The Fourth Amendment prohibits the President from ordering spying on Americans without a warrant.

Ex Parte Milligan (1866) prohibits the suspension of Habeas Corpus unless the situation is so dire that courts cannot operate in the district.

Article Six of the main body of the Constitution makes treaties to which the US is a party -- and that includes the Geneva Conventions, the Convention against Torture and the Charter of the United Nations -- the supreme law of the land.

There is no discussion. Cheney is just making this shit up.

[Miss Chybil]

32. Oh, yes. We little people can toss around these non-issues regarding the

Constitution of our country like little parlor games. It does make for interesting chatter, sure to brighten up any luncheon conversation. In the meantime, Dick Cheney can go f*ck himself.

[Morgana LaFey]

33. So, does Cheney have Bush over a bit of a barrel here?

Sounds like it to me. Can't back him totally, can't criticize him totally, can't make him do what he's supposed to do. Hmmmmmmm.

[gulliver]

34. He's hiding something.

I like the way the press plays up the usual narrative. "Why that Dick Cheney sure does have a 'penchant for secrecy' doesn't he?" It's just the usual penchant you see. It's not even a possibility that he is hiding some crime or malfeasance that the security audit would reveal. Nothing to see here. It's just stubborn, penchanty Dick Cheney. What a grouch! Heh-heh.

Maybe there is an ultra-secret bunch of documents with Valerie Plame's name in them -- all checked out to Dick Cheney right when her cover was blown. I think he's hiding something.